Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered a rare Christian pendant from the 5th century depicting King Solomon riding and defeating a devil. This artifact is the only one of its kind found in Anatolia, a region covering much of modern-day Turkey.
The bronze pendant features inscriptions in ancient Greek. One side translates to 'Our Lord has conquered evil,' while the other lists four angels: Azrael, Gabriel, Michael, and Israfil.
Ersin Çelikbaș, an archaeologist from Karabük University overseeing the excavation, stated, 'It is a symbol of religion and power.' The pendant served as an amulet, believed to protect against evil or danger.
According to the Hebrew Bible, King Solomon ruled ancient Israel in the 10th century BCE, although archaeological evidence supporting this account is limited. Çelikbaș noted, 'While he is mentioned as a leader in the Torah and the Bible, he is also recognized as a prophet in Islam. His representation on this pendant surprised us and revealed its significance for Anatolian archaeology.'
The pendant was discovered during excavations at Hadrianopolis, an ancient settlement in Paphlagonia, located in the north-central part of Turkey along the Black Sea coast. The site, named after Roman Emperor Hadrian, was reconstructed during the early Byzantine period and is near modern-day Karabük.
Hadrianopolis is renowned for its animal mosaics, and excavations have revealed baths, churches, fortifications, tombs, a theater, villas, and other structures. The pendant was found in a building potentially linked to military activity, although its exact function remains uncertain.
Çelikbaș hypothesized that the amulet belonged to a cavalry soldier, noting, 'In our previous excavations, we determined the existence of a cavalry unit here. The prophet Solomon is also known as a commander of armies. We understand that he was considered a protective figure for the Roman and Byzantine cavalry in Hadrianopolis.'
Based on the archaeological layer where the pendant was found, researchers dated the artifact to the 5th century, when Hadrianopolis was part of the Byzantine Empire. Emperor Constantine later divided the Roman Empire, leading to the establishment of the Byzantine Empire in 330 CE.
Although this pendant is the first of its kind discovered in Anatolia, Çelikbaș is aware of a similar one found in Jerusalem. 'The presence of similar artifacts in these two distant areas indicates that Hadrianopolis was an important religious center in antiquity,' he stated.
The pendant is currently in Çelikbaș's laboratory and will eventually be submitted to a museum for public display.